Device for transferring the bobbin of a braiding machine between two adjacent flyer wheels

ABSTRACT

A device for transferring the bobbin of a braiding machine between two adjacent flyer wheels of the type in which a double gripper arm is provided for retaining the bobbin, which double gripper arm has retaining claws which engage behind projections arranged on each of the flyer wheels and in which the longitudinal axis of which gripper arm extends through the axis of the bobbin, in which the surfaces of the retaining claws which engage behind the projections are curved to form a radius which corresponds to the radius of turn of these surfaces about the longitudinal axis of the bobbin, the double gripper arm being rotatable relative to the flyer wheel carrying the bobbin, such that one retaining claw engages with one projection, the rotation effecting the locking or unlocking being controllable such that the transfer region extends across a specific region of the path in advance and after the point of transfer with a uniformly accelerated change in the speed of rotation from the speed of rotation of the transferring flyer wheel to the speed of rotation of the receiving flyer wheel.

nited States Patent I Strangfeld [54] DEVICE FOR TRANSFERRING THE BOBBINOF A BRAIDING MACHINE BETWEEN TWO ADJACENT FLYER WHEELS [72] Inventor:Reiner Strangfeld, Oldenburg, Germany [73] Assignee: August HerzogMaschinenfabrlk, Ol-

denburg, Germany {22] Filed: Sept. 22, 1970 [21] Appl.No.: 74,409

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Sept. 23, 1969 Germany .Q ..P 1947 976.6

52 U. S.Cl .Q ..87/37 511 Int.Cl ..D04c3/20 [58 FieldofSearch.8-7/33,37,38,50,22

[5 6] References Cited I UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,499,830 7/1924 Krissiep..87/37 1,702,814 2/1929 Corbett ..87/37 i Illilllll 'f [is] 3,656,398 1Apr. 18,1972

2,362,688 11/1944 Dunn.....L ..87/22X Primary Examiner-John PetrakesAttorney-Allison C. Collard [5 7] ABSTRACT A device for transferring thebobbin of a braiding machine between two adjacent flyer wheels of thetype in which a double gripper arm is provided for retaining the bobbin,which double gripper arm has retaining claws which engage behindprojections arranged on each of the flyer wheels and in which thelongitudinal axis of which gripper arm extends through the axis of thebobbin, in which the surfaces of the retaining claws which engage behindthe projections are curved to form a radius which corresponds to theradius of turn of these surfaces about the longitudinal axis of thebobbin, the double gripper arm being rotatable relative to the flyerwheel carrying the bobbin, such that one retaining claw engages with oneprojection, the rotation effecting the locking or unlocking beingcontrollable such that the transfer region extends across a specificregion of the path in advance and after the point of transfer with auniformly accelerated change in the speed of rotation from the speed ofrotation of the transferring flyer wheel to the speed of rotation of thereceiving flyer wheel.

4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures set- DEVICE FOR TRANSFERRING 'llll'IE BOBBINOF A BRAIDING MACHINE BETWEEN TWO ADJACENT FLYER WHEELS The presentinvention relates to a device for transferring the bobbin of a braidingmachine between two adjacent flyer wheels in which a double gripper armis provided on the bobbin for the purpose of retaining it. The doublegripper arm has retaining claws which engage and cooperate withprojections arranged on the flyer wheels. The longitudinal axis of whichgripper arm also extends through the axis of the bobbin.

In conventional devices, the surfaces of the retaining claws whichengage with the projections are curved to form a radius whichcorresponds to the turn radius of the projections about the axis of theflyer wheels. Furthermore, stops are provided at the point of transferwhich effect an abrupt change in the absolute direction of rotation ofthe bobbin from the direction of rotation of the transferring flyerwheel to the direction of rotation of the receiving flyer wheel, andthereby retain the bobbin in the position required for locking orunlocking. The abrupt engagement of the jaws, however, subjects theseparate parts of the device to great mechanical stresses.

A device is also known which prevents the abrupt change in the directionof rotation of the bobbin at the point of transfer. In this device,however, the connecting line of the retaining claws in the form ofgripper hooks does not extend through the axis of the bobbin. Inaddition to a very rapid change in the rotational speed fromtherotational speed of the transferring flyer wheel to the rotationalspeed of the receiving flyer wheel, the aforementioned construction ofthe double gripper arm requires the bobbin to be additionallyaccelerated to a rota tional speed in excess of that of the receivingflyer wheel, and then to be decelerated. Thus, the separate parts ofthedevice are also subjected to great stresses.

The present invention seeks to avoid the disadvantages of conventionaldevices, to increase the working speed of the braiding machine and topermit an increase in the size of the braider bobbins.

To solve this problem, a device has been provided in which the surfacesof the retaining claws engaged behind the projections are curved to forma radius which corresponds to the radius of turn of these surfaces aboutthe axis of the bobbin. Moreover, in order to lock the bobbin, thedouble gripper arm is rotatable relative to the flyer wheel carrying thebobbin, so that one retaining claw engages with one projection. Rotationeffecting the locking or unlocking is controllable so that it extendsacross a specific region of the path in front of and be hind the pointof transfer with a uniformly accelerated change in the speed of rotationfrom the speed of rotation of the transferring flyer wheel to the speedof rotation of the receiving flyer wheel.

One advantage of this construction resides in the fact that the angularcontrol movement of the bobbin required for locking or unlocking can beinitiated well in advance of the actual point of transfer and can becorrespondingly terminated well after the point of transfer. Thus, themechanical stresses of the bobbin are not greater than the stresses ofconventional braiding machines. However, since the centrifugal forcesare absorbed directly by the flyer wheels, and the bobbin is accuratelyguided at all points of the path, the speed of the machine can besubstantially increased. Furthermore, it is possible to use largerbraiding spools.

It is, therefore, an object according to the present invention toprovide a device capable of permitting an increased working speed of thebraiding machine and permitting larger size bobbins to be utilized.

It is another object according to the present invention to provide adevice for braiding machines which is simple in design, inexpensive incost and reliable in operation.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparentfrom the following detailed description considered in connection withthe accompanying drawings which disclose the embodiments of theinvention. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings aredesigned for the purpose of illustration only and not as a definition ofthe limits of the invention.

In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters denote similarelements throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic section through the part of a braiding machineincluding flyer wheels, a bobbin, and a device constructed in accordancewith the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional plan view of the machine of FIG. 1 takenalong section 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view taken along section 3-3 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a view through the guideway, taken along section 4-4 of FIG.3.

Referring to FIG. 1', flyer wheels 13 and 14 and respective coaxialadditional flyer wheels 15 and 16 are arranged adjacent one anotherabove a base plate 10 in axes at right angles to that of base plate 10.The drive for the flyer wheels is effected by way of two gear wheels 11and 12. F lyer wheels 13,

V 14 and additional flyer wheels 15, 16 have respective recesses 17 and18 which, in the bobbin transfer position illustrated, are locatedexactly opposite one another and surround spindle 19 of bobbin 20. Flyerwheels 13, 14 together with their additional flyer wheels 15, 16 arerotated in opposite directions by the intenneshing of gear wheels 11 and12. In principle, the locking control is not dependent upon a specificdirection in which the braiding machine is running. It operates in thesame manner during forward running and reverse running, withoutadditional control elements having to be actuated during changeover.

In the direction of rotation of the flyer wheels illustrated in FIG. 1,bobbin 20 is transferred from left hand flyer wheels 13 and 15 to righthand flyer wheels 14 and 16. During rotation on the path determined bythe flyer wheels, a thread is drawn upwardly from a plurality ofbraiding spool (not illustrated) located on bobbin 20. A plurality ofthreads may be drawn upwardly from a plurality of braiding spools (notillustrated). Bobbin spindle 19 is retained in recesses 17 and 18 by alocking device, one part of which comprises projections 21 mounted atright angles on flyer wheels 13 and 14, and projections 22 mounted atright angles on upper flyer wheels 15 and 16. The other part of thelocking device is formed by a double gripper arm 23 which is arranged onbobbin spindle 19 so as to be non-rotatable relative thereto, and sothat two retaining claws 24 and 25, having ends mounted at right anglesrelative to each other, can engage behind projections 21 and 22. Thefacing surfaces of retaining claws 24 and 25 are of arcuateconfiguration having a radius which corresponds to the distance of thesesurfaces from the center of bobbin spindle 19 with which the doublegripper arm 23 rotates. In the illustrated embodiment, the contactsurfaces of projections 21 and 22 are also arcuate in order to maintainthe contact pressure at a low value.

The moving during angular locking will be further described withreference to FIG. 2. During normal rotation around a flyer wheel, thebobbin maintains its position relativeto the flyer wheel. As is shown bythe broken lines, retaining claw 24 (or 25) is then located centrallybehind projection 21 (or 22), and transmits the centrifugal force of thebobbin to the respective flyer wheel.

If one follows the movement of the bobbin corresponding to the directionof rotation of the flyer wheels illustrated in FIG. 2, the rotation ofthe bobbin corresponding to the speed of rotation of the flyer wheel isdecelerated to non-rotation in the first half of the transfer regionbetween points 26 and 27 on the path of movement. The angularacceleration and thus the mechanical stress of bobbin 20 is then, in noway, greater than in conventional braiding machines. This is because theangular position of bobbin 20 is controlled by guide piece 31 whichengages through two followers 32 into guideway 29. Its movements thuscorrespond to the movement of the bobbin in conventional braidingmachines. However, in contrast to bobbin 20, which moves on path 30,guide piece 31 assumes a varying distance from the center of therespective flyer wheel. Thus, its control function is possible only byproviding in guide piece 31, a groove 33 which extends transversely tothe direction of movement of the guide piece, and engages a slidingblock 34 connected to bobbin 20 so as to be non-rotatable relativethereto.

However, to produce the angular movement, it is also possible to couplea rotatable arm to the bobbin which moves relative to the spindle of thebobbin and in the end of which is mounted a guide follower. The followerslides in a guideway which is constructed so that the bobbin carries outthe required change in the direction of rotation in the transfer regron.

Due to the relative movement between bobbin and the flyer wheeloccurring substantially between points 26 and 27 on the path ofmovement, the longitudinal axis of retaining claw 24 has been turnedfrom the initial radial position in the direction of rotation of thereceiving fiyer wheel. The pivoted gripper arm, illustrated by solidlines in FIG. 2, shows retaining claw 24 still just in engagement withprojection 21, while the oppositely located retaining claw is inengagement with projection 22 which has been reached on the receivingfiyer wheel.

When retaining claw 25 reaches projection 22, and retaining claw 24leaves projection 21 in the vicinity of the point of transition 27, theabsolute rotation of the bobbin has stopped. Thus, the same velocityvector can be associated with every point on the double gripper arm. InFIG. 2, these velocity vectors lie at right angles to the connectingline between the axes of the flyer wheels. Their magnitude results fromthe angular velocity and the size of the pitch circle radius. Thevelocity vectors of projections 21 and 22 are uniformly directed.However, in conformity with the shorter distance to the respective flyerwheel axis, they are smaller than the velocity vector of the bobbin.Thus, retaining claw 25 can reach projection 22, while retaining claw 24simultaneously leaves projection 21 behind.

Bobbin 20 is accelerated from non-rotation to the speed of the receivingflyer wheel in the second half of the transfer region between points 27and 28 on the path of movement. Retaining claw 25 is then turnedcentrally behind projection 22 by the relative rotation occurring, i.e.,the longitudinal axis of double gripper arm 23 again assumes a radialposition relative to the receiving fiyer wheel. This concludes thereversal of engagement.

The transferring of bobbin 20 from flyer wheel 14 to flyer wheel 13 iseffected in a corresponding manner.

While only a single embodiment of the present invention has been shownand described, it will be obvious that many changes and modificationsmay be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

What is claimed is: l. A device for transferring a bobbin mounted on aspindle of a braiding machine between two adjacent flyer wheelscomprising;

at least one projection disposed on each of said flyer wheels, a doublegripper arm for retaining the bobbin, said double gripper arm havingretaining claws which engage behind said projections on each of saidfiyer wheels, the longitudinal axis of said gripper arm extendingthrough the axis of said bobbin, said retaining claws having curved edgesurfaces forming a radius corresponding to the radius of the turn of thesurfaces about the longitudinal axes of the bobbin, the double gripperarm being rotatable relative to the flyer wheel carrying the bobbin sothat one retaining claw engages with one projection for locking andunlocking the fiyer wheel such that the transfer region extends across aspecific region of the path in advance and after the point of transferwith uniformly accelerated change in the speed of rotation, from thespeed of rotation of the transferring fiyer wheel to the speed ofrotation of the receiving flyer wheel.

2. The device as recited in claim 1 additionally comprising a guidewayfor controlling the rotation effecting locking and unlocking, a guidepiece being movable transversely to its direction of movement relativeto the bobbin spindle, the rotation of the bobbin spindle being producedby said guide piece connected thereto, and two followers rotatablymounted for sliding one behind the other in the guideway.

3. he device as recited ll'l claim 2, wherein one said followers slidingin said guideway produces a rotary movement of the bobbin spindle,wherein the shuttle runs in the guideway deviating from the bobbin pathmounted at the end point of a rotary arm connected to the bobbinspindle.

4. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein two spaced double-gripperarms are disposed parallel with respect to each other on the bobbinspindle, and additional set of flyer wheels spaced from said originalfiyer wheels.

1. A device for transferring a bobbin mounted on a spindle of a braidingmachine between two adjacent flyer wheels comprising; at least oneprojection disposed on each of said flyer wheels, a double gripper armfor retaining the bobbin, said double gripper arm having retaining clawswhich engage behind said projections on each of said flyer wheels, thelongitudinal axis of said gripper arm extending through the axis of saidbobbin, said retaining claws having curved edge surfaces forming aradius corresponding to the radius of the turn of the surfaces about thelongitudinal axes of the bobbin, the double gripper arm being rotatablerelative to the flyer wheel carrying the bobbin so that one retainingclaw engages with one projection for locking and unlocking the flyerwheel such that the transfer region extends across a specific region ofthe path in advance and after the point of transfer with uniformlyaccelerated change in the speed of rotation, from the speed of rotationof the transferring flyer wheel to the speed of rotation of thereceiving flyer wheel.
 2. The device as recited in claim 1 additionallycomprising a guideway for controlling the rotation effecting locking andunlocking, a guide piece being movable transversely to its direction ofmovement relative to the bobbin spindle, the rotation of the bobbinspindle being produced by said guide piece connected thereto, and twofollowers rotatably mounted for sliding one behind the other in theguideway.
 3. The device as recited in claim 2, wherein one saidfollowers sliding in said guideway produces a rotary movement of thebobbin spindle, wherein the shuttle runs in the guideway deviating fromthe bobbin path mounted at the end point of a rotary arm connected tothe bobbin spindle.
 4. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein twospaced double-gripper arms are disposed parallel with respect to eachother on the bobbin spindle, and additional set of flyer wheels spacedfrom said original flyer wheels.